Historic National Road (original) (raw)

Skip to content

• Blog
• About
• Contact

Historic National RoadBy Ways2021-08-24T16:19:10-04:00

Historic National Road

State: Ohio
Length: 824.15 miles / 1326.3 km
Time to Allow: Plan anywhere from 1 to 9 days to drive this Byway.

The Historic National Road sprawls through six different states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Overall, the byway takes up a whopping 824 miles making for a spectacular road trip with thousands of sights to see along the way. Take a full week to thoroughly see the sights as you move from the east toward the west, following American history. It’s the first federally finances road-building project in the country, opening the west to early settlers.

Beginning in the east by the water in Annapolis, Maryland. The city offers a rich history along with coastal scenes and activities. Start out at the USA Naval Academy and the Maryland State House, and a trip to the Banneker-Douglass Museum. For some fine dining, try out some Mediterranean seafood at the Osteria 177 before moving west. The route takes 170 miles through Maryland, including the rolling countryside through Frederick to Hagerstown. Check out some unique sights like Thomas Isaac’s Log Cabin, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, and the Rocky Gap Casino and Resort.

Next, drive through the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Detour for a trip to Pittsburgh for fun city life or stay on the trail for a day at Cheat Lake, which turns into the Monongahela River. In Pennsylvania, follow the Revolution sights for some impressive history lessons or stop at historic towns filled with history. Make sure to visit the Fort Necessity National Battlefield commemorating the French and Indian War, where George Washington surrendered to the French.

In West Virginia, visit more historical sights, including the Heimberger House in Little Wheeling creek. It’s one of the first and most famous stagecoach stops along the byway. Nearby visit the Madonna of the Trail monument as it’s a symbol of strength and love and the Mingo Indian erected in the early 1900s. The town offers a toy and train museum, a suspended bridge, and a zoo. Stop at the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gambling Center, too, for a day of gambling. Visit the historic district, too, for some incredible Victorian architecture.

The byway continues through Ohio with several historical sights. Drive over the Blaine Hill Bridge and the Zanesville Bridge with interesting views. Stop at the Guernsey courthouse, Hebron Mill, and Columbus Statehouse for a look at history. For a unique stop, visit the Hines Truck Stop, although it’s gone some renovations over the years. Ohio offers mile markers, and 83 are still visible along the original route.

Next, head to Indiana for a 156 mile stretch across route 40. Look for some interesting historic architecture, attractions, and landmarks. Some of the sights you can see including the Gaar Mansion, Wayne County Historical Museum, Football, Hall of Fame, and the White Water River Gorge. End the trip driving through Illinois at the border. Visit the oldest house in the state in Marshall and the livery. Enjoy horse races in Casey. Also, stop at the Jackson Truss covered Bridget purported to have been built by Abraham Lincoln.

More Ohio Byways

You can check out additional Byways in Ohio by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Ohio Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.

Page load link

Go to Top